Golf chipping target with ball return



Aug. 2, 1966 E. G. URBAN 3,264,001

GOLF OHIPPING TARGET WITH BALL RETURN Filed July 5, 1962 INVENTOR. EDWARD G. (/XBfl/V A 77'OEA/E V United States Patent 3,264,001 GOLF CHIPPING TARGET WITH BALL RETURN Edward G. Urban, 6673 Orchard Blvd., Parma Heights 30, Ohio Filed July 3, 1962, Ser. No. 207,211 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-182) This invention relates to game apparatus and more particularly to game apparatus adapted for practicing certain shots in the game of golf, as well as for a throwingtype game wherein a ball is lofted to a target area.

Accordingly, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a golf game wherein a target area is on an incline and arranged so that a golf ball cannot be rolled to the target, as in putting.

Many practice games for golf have been in use wherein a plurality of cups is arranged for receiving a golf ball as it is rolled along by putting. Further, vertical targets are used with pockets, bells, and other means to register the accuracy of the stroke when a golf ball is driven in the direction of the target. The present invention contemplates a device adapted to the chip shot wherein the golf ball is lofted by use of a number 7 or 8 iron at low speed and a high arch to a target. The target is sloped to have the target area generally normal to the direction of flight of the ball as it approaches the target. The target is in the form of a perforate panel having one or more openings. A second larger panel is positioned below and spaced from the target panel to allow room for the ball to roll between the two panels either after it has passed through the target openings or has rolled off the target panel. The second panel returns the ball to the tee area for replay.

Another object of the invention is to provide a golf game apparatus wherein an inclined panel is provided with at least one opening, said target panel being suspended above a second panel for receiving a golf ball after it passes through a target opening and being inclined similarly to the target panel and toward the tee area for returning the ball to the player.

A further object of the invention is to provide a golf game wherein an inclined panel is supported by a frame readily assembled and adapted to stand at an angle to the floor, a second panel having a target opening therein smaller than the first panel and spaced above and away from the first panel, the second panel being supported by a plurality of extensible members engageable with portions of the frame.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a golf game wherein a frame supports the rear margin of a sloping panel, the forward margin being positioned substantially at ground level. A target panel is suspended above the first panel by support members anchored to the aforementioned frame, the target panel having at least one opening therein at which a golf ball may be lofted, the sloping panel returning the ball to the playing area after it has either rolled or passed through a target opening or rolled off the edge of the target panel.

Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary to the foregoing, and the manner in which all the various objects are realized, will appear in the following description, which, considered in connection with the accomr panying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective assembly view of a game apparatus suitable for use indoors or outdoors;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the game apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail view of the corner structure utilized in assembly.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, a modification of the game 3,264,001 Patented August 2, 1966 is shown which is particularly adapted to use indoors in recreation rooms and the like, as Well as outdoors. A panel 50 of fabric, plastic, or other suitable durable material is provided with tubular hems 5 2. Longitudinal stringers 54 are placed in the longitudinal hems 52 for carrying the marginal edges of the panel 50. Crossbars 56 are positioned within the crosswise hems 52 and support the upper and lower margins of the panel 50'. Openings 58 are formed in the stringers 54, preferably cone-shaped, with the larger diameter toward the panel 50. The crossbars 56 are provided with conical ends 59 which project through the openings 58 and fit snugly therein. A target panel 60 of materials similar to the panel 50 has a target aperture 62 formed therein and is supported above and spaced from the panel 50. Support lines 64 afiixed to each corner of the panel 60 are preferably of resilient and stretchable material, such as rubber, and have the looped ends thereof passed over the ends 5 9 of the crossbars 56. The continuous tension of the loope lines 64 assures that the target panel 60 shall remain spaced from the panel 50 and thus allow the ball to pass through the aperture 62 and be returned down the sloping panel 50 to the tee area.

A pad 66 for providing a tee area and protecting the floor is positioned in front of the game device and in line with the center thereof. A rubber-like tubular tee 68 is provided, on which a practice-type golf ball or a golf ball may be positioned for projection toward the target panel 60 in the manner of a chip shot in golf. A hole 70 is provided in pad 66 for receiving the tee 68. It is noted that the ends of the stringers 54 are mitered to facilitate the placing of the ends of the stringers 54 against a wall and floor, respectively.

Having thus described this invention in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, and having set forth the best mode contemplated of carrying out this invention, I state that the subject which I regard as being my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in what is claimed, it being understood that equivalents or modifications of, or substitutions for, parts of the above specifically described embodiments of the invention may be made Without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A game apparatus comprising a sloping panel having a hem formed around the periphery thereof, a frame in said hem supporting the marginal edges of said sloping panel, and a target panel having at least one target opening therein, said target panel being supported above and substantially parallel to the sloping panel by a plurality of rubber-like extensible members, means holding such frame and panels in a sloping position whereby a ball passing through the target opening is directed back to the player as it rolls beneath the target panel and down the incline of the sloping panel.

2. A game apparatus comprising a sloping rectangular panel having a hem formed at each side thereof, individual frame members in each hem and removably joined at their respective ends and jointly defining a planar frame, a rectangular target panel having at least one target opening therein, a rubber-like extensible member for each corner of the frame, and joining the frame to a corner of said target panel, said target panel being supported above and substantially parallel to the sloping panel by the plurality of extensible members, means holding such frame and panels in a sloping position whereby a ball passing through the target opening is directed back to the player as it roll-s beneath the target panel and down the incline of the sloping panel.

3. A collapsible game apparatus comprising a sloping rectangular panel having a hem formed at each side thereof, individual frame members in each hem and removably joined at their respective ends and jointly defining a planar frame, a rectangular target panel having at least one target opening therein, the edges of said target panel being spaced laterally from said frame, an extensible member removably attached to each corner of the frame and joining the frame to a corner of said target panel, said target panel being supported above and substantially parallel to the sloping panel by the plurality of extensible members, means lholding such frame and panels in a sloping position whereby a ball passing through the target opening or to one side of the target panel is directed back to the player as it rolls beneath the target panel and down the incline of the sloping panel.

4. A game apparatus comprising a sloping panel, a rectangular frame supporting the marginal edges of said sloping panel, said panel sloping downwardly and forwardly toward a player, and a sheet-like target panel having at least one target opening therein, said target panel being supported above and substantially parallel to the sloping panel, a plurality of rubber-like extensible members, each joining a corner of the frame to the target panel, means holding such frame and panel-s in a sloping position whereby a ball passing through the target opening is directed back to the player as it rolls beneath the target panel and down the incline of the sloping panel.

, References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,262,314 4/1918 Downey 27310-3 1,469,130 9/ 1923 Whitehair 273181 X 2,126,102 8/1938 Fowler 27326 2,220,492 1 1/ 1940 Piesco 273-181 2,232,569 2/1941 Johnson 273-184 X 2,744,752 5/1956 Arnold 273-105 2,873,969 2/1959 Ziel 273181 X DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

20 G. J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner. 

4. A GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING A SLOPING PANEL, A RECTANGULAR FRAME SUPPORTING THE MARGINAL EDGES OF SAID SLOPING PANEL, SAID PANEL SLOPING DOWNWARDLY AND FORWARDLY TOWARD A PLAYER, AND A SHEET-LIKE TARGET PANEL HAVING AT LEAST ONE TARGET OPENING THEREIN, SAID TARGET PANEL BEING SUPPORTED ABOVE AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE SLOPING PANEL, A PLURALITY OF RUBBER-LIKE EXTENSIBLE MEMBERS, EACH JOINING A CORNER OF THE FRAME TO THE TARGET PANEL, MEANS HOLDING SUCH FRAME AND PANELS IN A SLOPING POSITION WHEREBY A BALL PASSING THROUGH THE TRAGET OPENING IS DIRECTED BACK TO THE PLAYER AS IT ROLLS BENEATH THE TARGET PANEL AND DOWN THE INCLINE OF THE SLOPING PANEL. 